on the Sivtzevy Vrazhok and on the Dimitrovka, and not in the
Rzhanoff house, and still eat and drink dainties, and not liver and
herrings with bread, that does not prevent them from being exactly as
unhappy. They are just as dissatisfied with their own positions,
they mourn over the past, and pine for better things, and the
improved position for which they long is precisely the same as that
which the inhabitants of the Rzhanoff house long for; that is to say,
one in which they may do as little work as possible themselves, and
derive the utmost advantage from the labors of others. The
difference is merely one of degrees and time. If I had reflected at
that time, I should have understood this; but I did not reflect, and
I questioned these people, and wrote them down, supposing, that,
having learned all the particulars of their various conditions and
necessities, I could aid them LATER ON. I did not understand that
such a man can only be helped by changing his views of the world.
But in order to change the views of another, one must needs have
better views himself, and live in conformity with them; but mine were
precisely the same as theirs, and I lived in accordance with those
views, which must undergo a change, in order that these people might
cease to be unhappy.

I did not see that these people were unhappy, not because they had
not, so to speak, nourishing food, but because their stomachs had
been spoiled, and because their appetites demanded not nourishing but
irritating viands; and I did not perceive that, in order to help
them, it was not necessary to give them food, but that it was
necessary to heal their disordered stomachs. Although I am
anticipating by so doing, I will mention here, that, out of all these
persons whom I noted down, I really did not help a single one, in
spite of the fact that for some of them, that was done which they